Your annual fund is the foundation which supports the rest of your development program. It should help expand the base of friends, prospects, and donors who will give the majority of current and future gifts to your institution. And it should be the pipeline for your institution’s future major giving and planned giving donors. It seems that each year, annual fund leaders are asked to raise more money, increase the number of donors, and do more to support the major and planned giving programs of their institutions.

No pressure, right?

Join the Gonser Gerber Institute for this two-day workshop designed for annual fund directors, managers and coordinators. In an era of increasing expectations, our expert faculty will provide you with the opportunity to learn the skills and new thinking required to optimize your annual fund results.

Our workshop will cover the following topics:

Role, Scope and Purpose of the Annual Fund

Planning the Annual Fund

The Case Statement – A Requirement for Success

Identifying and Cultivating Major Donors for the Annual Fund

Annual Fund Personal Solicitation

Direct Mail Planning and Performance

Effective Phoneathon Campaigns

Engaging Volunteers in Your Annual Fund

Communicating the Annual Fund (including Social Media)

Donor Recognition and Stewardship

This Gonser Gerber Institute workshop will allow you and your team the opportunity to work with experienced faculty, learn from your peers, and develop work plans that will help you do your job better. Join us for this program to learn new strategies and approaches, explore best practices, and enhance your program.

Registration and Hotel Information:

Gonser Gerber Institute workshops cost $995 per registration, $895 for each additional registration from the same institution. Current clients of Gonser Gerber receive a discounted fee of $795 per registrant. This fee includes breakfast and snacks both days of the workshop, and lunch on Thursday. The workshop will take place at The Minneapolis Marriott City Center. A limited number of rooms have been secured at the rate of $165 a night. Reservations must be made by August 28, 2019. Check out our hotel fact sheet for more information and details.

Faculty

Kent Huyser, senior consultant at Gonser Gerber, has more than 14 years of experience in non-profit and advancement leadership. Prior to joining Gonser Gerber, he was Associate Vice Chancellor for Advancement at Metropolitan Community College, Kansas City (MCC) where he led a successful advancement program and launched the first comprehensive campaign for $20 million and reaching record fundraising levels.

Charlie Shepard, senior consultant at Gonser Gerber, provides development consulting services to non-profit organizations, including developing and strengthening Boards, gift programs, campaign planning and execution, advancement team building, and other aspects of institutional advancement. Prior to joining Gonser Gerber, Charlie served the Advancement field for more than 18 years, with his most recent position as Vice President for Institutional Advancement at Asbury University in Kentucky and The University of Findlay in Ohio.

Author: Jennifer Spuehler

Jennifer Spuehler has been part of the Chicagoland educational and philanthropic profession for more than 20 years. She launched the Gonser Gerber Institute in 2012 and continues to promote and execute the programs as Executive Director.